Materials to Maintain Your ZHP IIIII Hand Protection IIIII Tools to Maintain Your ZHP
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  1. #1

    Oil Catch Can/CVV delete mod doityourself

    So I wanted to share this with you all because honestly, I think it is an EXCELLENT way to not only improve performance and longevity in your engine, but it also ELIMINATES the worst BMW invention since the window regulator, the crank case vent valve!

    I was working on reducing my oil consumption and it led me to a thread about catch cans here.

    A friend of mine had an unused catch can from a turbo motor he never finished and he let me have it so I figured I would try it. I basically copied the OP's design from the thread. The only difference was my can had 3/8 fittings so I had to buy a 3/4 to 5/8 reducer and then a 5/8 to 3/8 reducer for the valve cover connection and a 5/8 to 3/8 reducer on the air distribution block side. I used the Oreilley Auto Parts PCV valve listed on page 2 and installed it between the can and the air distribution block (on the vacuum side). I then just capped the oil dipstick return hole with a 3/8 cap. Then pulled the CVV and we are done.

    All I can say is wow! There is no denying the car has more power due to better sealing rings under the increased vacuum. And it is INCREASED vacuum. At idle, you have to really WANT to get the oil fill cap off, when you do there is a large WOOOSH as you break the vacuum seal. But this extra vacuum is what helps the rings seal better as the M54 uses low tension rings and many believe extra vacuum is just what the doctor ordered. Down side is, if you have older or ailing valve cover gaskets, oil filter housing gaskets, or even leaky dipstick tube o-rings, you will want to replace them as they will likely let go under all this vacuum. All my stuff was new so I have had ZERO issues.

    Beyond the increase in power I also lessened my oil consumption by 300-400 miles per qt. I KNOW my car has gunked up oil control rings, so a healthier, lower mileage engine will likely benefit more.

    The other super cool thing (IMO) is the amount of crap that is no longer being sucked into my intake and cylinders (probably what gummed up my rings to begin with) and being caught in the "catch can". And I have ZERO chance of ever having a CVV related failure or hydrolocking the engine because the valve locks up and sucks all the oil out of my dipstick tube and into the motor.

    I only have to empty the can about 2 times monthly. But you will likely only have to do it every oil change. I just get more blow by and crap because of my ring issue.

    Before you run out to ebay and buy the $33 cans let me just remind you, ALL CANS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL. Some of the ebay ones are simply a can with two inlets and NOTHING inside the can. What you want is a can with internal baffling and some sort of media (mine uses stainless steel scrubber pads like you can buy at the grocery store) to allow the oil and liquids to grab onto so only clean air and vapor make it out of the can. This is paramount because the can won't do its job well without that media.

    So good luck, I think this is a MUCH better way to do it than what BMW did with the CVV.




    Stuff it catches...



    With COLD AIR KIT INSTALLED....I have since re-routed the hose under the heat shield.


    Check out my youtube channel for all kinds of E46 DIY's
    http://www.youtube.com/user/flipfinish?feature=mhee
    Check out my BMW Blog
    http://smolckbmw.blogspot.com/
    Follow me on twitter @smolck

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Location
    Southern California
    Posts
    18,064
    Thanks for posting.
    Randeaux/Rando/John/jr - '06 Cic ZHP; Southern California
    "ZHP or not, I still like you"


    ZHP Performance Package, Cold Weather Package, Leather, Jet Black/Black/BlackCube, NAV, Anthracite Black "my individual" interior trim
    ESS Stage 1 Twin Screw Supercharger, Sprint Booster, BMW Perf Intake, Magnaflow Exhaust, Dinan TB & STEP S/W, UCC Sway Bars, Apex EC-7 18x8.5 ET38
    Suspension: AST 44100 dampers, Bimmerworld front adjustable end links, Swift springs (8K front, 10K rear), Vorshlag camber plates
    Dynavin D99+, Hardwire V1 (w/V1 Connection), BSW Stage 1 Speakers, Kicker Amp/Subwoofer
    BMW Performance Strut Brace, Orion V2 Angel Eyes, No-holes License Plate, SMG Paddle Shift Mod, Besian VANOS, Gold DISA, Fan Delete, M3 Side Mirrors
    Note: Actual car no longer resembles signature picture

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Location
    Liberty Township, OH
    Posts
    37,935
    Quote Originally Posted by johnrando View Post
    Thanks for posting.
    +1

    So you're not swapping in a new engine? You're not going to try and kill it?

    Sent from my S4 > Mason, OH
    Call Me Dane l 2/2004 330i ZHP l 18x8 ET45 BBS CK's wrapped with Michelin Pilot Sport AS3+ @ 245-40-18 l KW V1 Coilovers in front l KW V1 springs w/ Bilstein B8 dampeners in rear l BMW Performance Rotors l UUC StrutBarbarian l Racing Dynamics Rear Strut Bar l Jim Conforti Shark Injector l Light Birch Interior Trim l Bimmian Celly Mount l M3 Trunk Mat l l e90 Performance E-Brake & Shift Knob l M3 Tri-Stitched Boots l AL Headlight Retrofit with ZKW Lenses l CobyWheel Wrap w/M3 Stitching l LCM sw 4.5 triple blink and rear fogs l Maple Interior Trim

  4. #4
    Quote Originally Posted by danewilson77 View Post
    +1

    So you're not swapping in a new engine? You're not going to try and kill it?

    Sent from my S4 > Mason, OH
    Greatly depends on how my "desludging" process goes. If it still consumes a qt every 400 miles, I am going to blow it up once my tax check shows up. Or maybe I will part it out and make some money back. The Cams and head have some value at least.

    I just bought a set of headers for it too, so it isn't like I am going to take it easy on the old girl. She has to keep up. I would say my car is going to be spending some time in the extreme upper RPM ranges with the easy revving header mod!

    Check out my youtube channel for all kinds of E46 DIY's
    http://www.youtube.com/user/flipfinish?feature=mhee
    Check out my BMW Blog
    http://smolckbmw.blogspot.com/
    Follow me on twitter @smolck

  5. #5
    A really cheap option is to use one of these and two 3/8 fittings and you'd be invested by about $50 with hoses and clamps. This will do an excellent job since it is designed to separate water from compressed air. Any Home Depot will have them in the tool section. LOWES will NOT! (ask me how I know) Just make sure you remove and cap off the schrader valve at the bottom. As I found out, the vacuum applied is enough to cause it to open inwards and causes a small vacuum leak.

    http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-3-8...2#.Upz4dif7dtg

    Check out my youtube channel for all kinds of E46 DIY's
    http://www.youtube.com/user/flipfinish?feature=mhee
    Check out my BMW Blog
    http://smolckbmw.blogspot.com/
    Follow me on twitter @smolck

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Melbourne, FL
    Posts
    2,099
    Very nice mod. I may look into this to go along with a fer other mods.

    Plus my ccv needs to be replaced anyway.

    Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
    2005 IR ZHP Alcantara 6MT l Bimmian phone mount l Khoalty Angel Eye's l Khoalty Fog's l AFE Stage 1 Intake l AFE Dynamic Air Scoop's l CDV Delete
    Besian Sealed VANOS l Flat black Kidney Grills l Magnaflow Cat-Back

  7. #7
    Quote Originally Posted by 328ioc View Post
    Very nice mod. I may look into this to go along with a fer other mods.

    Plus my ccv needs to be replaced anyway.

    Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
    I was a little hesitant at first, but now, after doing it and seeing the IMMEDIATE benefit and the ease of doing it, I wouldn't even think about going back to the old valve. What a POS.

    Quote Originally Posted by derbo View Post
    I like this mod. Unfortunately Smog emissions will fail visuals with this setup.
    Could easily be made to look better for smog inspection. And a few of the cans look OEM. See the one on the OP of the thread I used as my guide. With 3/4 hose from start to finish it can easily be made to look like it belongs there. In my state, we don't have smog checks or even state inspections so I didn't worry about how it looked. This was more for proof of concept. Eventually I'll get a better can with 3/4 fittings so I don't have to neck it down.

    Quote Originally Posted by Lanister View Post
    Why not just rebuild the motor? Wouldn't that be the cheapest route?
    Considering I have roughly $30 invested in this setup, so no a rebuild isn't even in the same stratosphere in relation to the cost.

    Even when I get my new engine, I would run this vs the stock setup. The M54 is built with LOW tension piston rings. Extra vacuum helps them seal, this makes the car run better, plain and simple. A guy I know makes scavenge pumps for race prepped E46's and other BMW's and says that they usually see 15% increase in power on the dyno from extra vacuum. I can also confirm, you will feel it. Or at least I did.

    It also is a much cleaner way to run your vehicle. If you look in the post I linked on post #1 you will see on page 6 or 7 that the original guy who did this cleaned his tailpipe of carbon after doing the mod. He had NO carbon residue to speak of after many, many miles. I would bet that nasty black residue we all get inside the intake (you see it when you replace the DISA) will be greatly reduced if not eliminated this way. And because it is still a closed system it is emissions friendly. I have been running it for 2000 miles and have gotten NO check engine lights and all my trims look spot on. The guy who gave me the idea has over 30k miles on his setup if memory serves. No issues.

    Check out my youtube channel for all kinds of E46 DIY's
    http://www.youtube.com/user/flipfinish?feature=mhee
    Check out my BMW Blog
    http://smolckbmw.blogspot.com/
    Follow me on twitter @smolck

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Melbourne, FL
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    2,099
    Quote Originally Posted by Smolck View Post
    I was a little hesitant at first, but now, after doing it and seeing the IMMEDIATE benefit and the ease of doing it, I wouldn't even think about going back to the old valve. What a POS.
    Yeah mine has been in need of replacing for a while but I just haven't had time. I'm going to look into doing this after the new year.

    Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
    2005 IR ZHP Alcantara 6MT l Bimmian phone mount l Khoalty Angel Eye's l Khoalty Fog's l AFE Stage 1 Intake l AFE Dynamic Air Scoop's l CDV Delete
    Besian Sealed VANOS l Flat black Kidney Grills l Magnaflow Cat-Back

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    San Francisco, CA
    Posts
    6,847
    I like this mod. Unfortunately Smog emissions will fail visuals with this setup.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Melbourne, FL
    Posts
    2,099
    Quote Originally Posted by derbo View Post
    I like this mod. Unfortunately Smog emissions will fail visuals with this setup.
    Yay for not having any emissions regulations in Florida then.

    Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
    2005 IR ZHP Alcantara 6MT l Bimmian phone mount l Khoalty Angel Eye's l Khoalty Fog's l AFE Stage 1 Intake l AFE Dynamic Air Scoop's l CDV Delete
    Besian Sealed VANOS l Flat black Kidney Grills l Magnaflow Cat-Back

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